Voluntary Sector

Voluntary Sector in Edinburgh

There are over 600 voluntary and community organisations in
Edinburgh. The sector is diverse and can be broadly categorised
into service-providing, advocacy and campaigning organisations, as
well as organisations with or without paid staff.

The sector ranges from small, locally focussed organisations
with little or no regular income to major charities or social
enterprises with annual turnovers running into million of
pounds.

There is also diversity in the ethos and operating model of
organisations from those more traditionally charitable to those
with a strong enterprise focus. Voluntary and community
organisations adopt a number of structures including charities,
companies limited by guarantee and trusts.

While the voluntary and community sector is diverse, all
organisations in the sector share a number of characteristics which
distinguish them from both the public and private sectors. These
defining characteristics are:

Independence from statutory agencies;

Managed by a voluntary committee or board;

Established for public or mutual benefit;

Non profit distributing

Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council (EVOC) is the
umbrella organisation which helps to support, develop and promote
the interests and work of voluntary and community organisations in
Edinburgh.

How is the voluntary sector represented on the Neighbourhood
Partnerships?

EVOC supports the local service-delivering voluntary sector in
to be involved in the Neighbourhood Partnerships by setting up
local forums or networks in each area. The Forums and Networks are
accessible and inclusive, and operate as an effective voice for the
local Voluntary Sector, and as a route into the local Community
Planning structures.

Voluntary Sector Representatives are elected through the local
forums or networks to represent the sector on their respective NPs.
All properly constituted voluntary organisations delivering a
service within the boundaries of a NP are eligible to participate
in Voluntary Sector elections, unless they already have alternative
representational routes into the NP Board.

The primary function of each NP is to improve local service
delivery through partnership working. It is recognized that the
Voluntary Sector is a significant deliverer of services to local
communities, and is often best placed to deliver critical services
to those most in need. Bearing this in mind, the key task of a
Voluntary Sector Representative is to bring the skills, experience
and ethos of the local Voluntary Sector to partnership working
generally and particularly to service design and delivery. Hence,
role of the Voluntary Sector Representative is to ensure that the
local Voluntary Sector point of view is effectively articulated
within the all community planning structures.

For more information on how to engage with your local Voluntary
Sector forum or network please contact;